Work garment



Nov. 23, 1954 c. D. wlLLlAMsGN 25947810 WORK GARMENT Filed Jam` 25, 1952 2 lshams-shew; 1

NVENTOR cHARLEs o. wlLLlusoN ATTORNEYS NovIn 23, 1954 C. D. WILLIAMSON WORK GARMENT Filed Jn. 23, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 1N VENTOR CHARLES WLLIAMSON ATTORNEYS nited States This invention relates to fa work garment and particularly concerns an improved construction for overalls. Utility garments generally known `as overalls `have been provided as working clothes` for individuals requiring a multiple number of pockets for carrying hand tools and other small instruments. These overallsr `are usually fabricated fromV relatively stiff material and are designed to eliminate sagging and the resulting discomfort which would normally occur from loading the pockets of a garment.

Conventional overalls have a combined trouser `portion and front bib supported by suspender-like straps looped over the shoulders. Thesey shoulder straps support the entire load of tools in pockets of the bib and in the hip or side pockets of the trouser portion of the overalls. retaining the shoulder straps in position to support the bib and trouser portion of the overalls. As well as being uncomfortable the straps tend to wear out long before wear in other portions of the overalls would cause the garment to be discarded. Further, by sliding inopportunely off the shoulders, these straps manifestly are generally inconvenient.

A wearer of the ordinary overalls requires a shirt which is tucked into the trouser portion and behind the bib. Frequently the tails of the shirt work up and slide out the sides of the overall causing discomfort and inconvenience. In addition, by reason of the double thickness of cloth in the area of the bib and the back of the overall such an outfit tends to be unduly warm and uncomfortable.

A major object of this invention is to provide an overall construction which utilizes an improved support for the combined trouser portion and bib. More specifically an object of the invention is to provide in an overall a shirt or blouse portion which functions to support the garment proper and permits the load of tools carried in the pockets of the overall to be distributed evenly across the shoulders. A further object of the invention is to provide a unitary overall garment affording protection for the entire body and which may be easily donned and removed by the wearer.

In the attainment of these objects, one feature of the invention resides in the arrangement of a bib at the front of the shirt portion with a separable closure along one edge of the bib and extending from the neck opening to the side of the garment.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following specification taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. l is a front elevational View of an overall embodying the invention in its preferred form;

Fig. 2 is a rear elevational view of the overall shown in Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a composite view showing parts of the shirt or blouse portion of the overall in unassembled position; and

Fig. 4 is a section taken along line 4--4 of Fig. 1.

In the form illustrated in the drawings, the overall has a shirt or blouse portion 11 attached to a trouser portion 12 by seam 13 extending across the back of the garment in the region of the waist. The shirt or blouse portion 11 is provided with a pair of front panels 14, 15 and a back panel 16 with shoulder portions 17, 18 extending on opposite sides of a neck opening 19. Thus a curved edge 19' of the back panel forms the rear of the neck opening 19.

Ordinarily buckles are attached to the bib for 1 latent 0 The back panel 16 is joined to front panels 14, 15 by seams 20, 21 which extend outwardly from oppositey sides of the neck opening 19 to the armholes 22, 23 provided at the sides of the garment. Upper edges, 24,25 respectively of front panels 142-, 15 thereby form the front of the neck opening 19. Lower curved edges 26, 27 are provided on the front panel diverging downwardly and outwardly from a point 28 below the front 29 of the neck opening 19. Straight edges 3l), 31 on the front panels 14, 15 extend down `the front of the shirt portion 11 to form a front opening which may be separably fastened as by snap fasteners 32.

A front bib panel 32 attached to the trouser portion 12 by seam 51 extending across the front of the garment in the region of the waist has upper edges 33, 34 curving inwardly and upwardly to conform to the shape of the lower edges 26, 27 on front panels 14, 15. Preferably the bib panel 32 is made from material of the same weight as that employed for the trouser section 12, a heavy denim overall fabric, and is provided with pockets 33 for carrying tools.

This front bib panel 32 is fastened to shirt portion 11 by `seam stitching 34 following the curve of the upper edge of the bib panel. Running along the curved edge from the front of the neck opening i9 to the side edge 35 of the garment is a separable closure such as zipper 36, which permits the blouse or shirt portion 11 of the overall to be opened in the front and facilitates putting on and taking off the garment. Thus the bib panel is secured to the front panels of Athe shirt by a curved fastening comprising a seam 34 and separable closure 36. The shirt portion of the garment is completed by the addition of a collar and sleeves 37 and provides a completely closed upper portion which can be buttoned to the neck of the wearer.

The yoke panel 38 provides a double thickness of cloth in the shoulder area of the shirt portion. Most of the garment wear occurs in this area which is subject to stress from the weight of tools carried in the garment pockets. As a reinforcing gusset the yoke panel 38 helps the shirt portion keep its shape and thereby continue to iit comfortably throughout 'the life of the garment.

Trouser portion 12 is formed in a conventional fashion with legs 39, 4t) and the usual front iiy 41. 0n the side and back sections of the trouser legs patch pockets 42 and loops 43 are fastened to provide a means for carrying hand tools. A reinforcing band 45 preferably extending completely around the garment in the region of the waist is stitched by seams 46 to the trouser portion 12.

With the shirt or blouse portion i1 and trouser portion 12 assembled the two front panels 14, 15 are attached to back panel t6 by seams 20, 21 extending across the front of the garment. With the back panel as well as the reinforcing insert extending completely across the shoulders of the shirt portion and down to the front seams, the usual top shoulder seam where undue wear normally occurs is eliminated.

Several objectionable features of known constructions have been eliminated in the improved overalls described. With a blouse or shirt portion supporting the combined trouser portion and bib the entire load of tools carried in the pockets both of the bib and the trouser portion is distributed evenly across the shoulders. The usual shoulder seam of utility shirts and blouses has been replaced by a double thickness of cloth passing completely over the shoulders and improves the wear resisting qualities of the shirt portion of the garment. By attaching the shirt or blouse portion to the bib and trouser portion and thereby dispensing with the usual shoulder straps and buckles, the regions of the bib normally carrying the buckles and subject to extreme wear last the life of the garment.

In addition, the overall garment of the invention provides a single thickness of cloth throughout areas where in ordinary constructions double thicknesses of cloth would be found. Hence, the improved garment entirely eliminates one cause of which has been experienced by wearers of the usual overall and companion work shirt outfit.

As set forth above, the bib and trouser portion of the garment of the invention are preferably made from heavy denim or similar cloth. In some instances, it is desirable to construct the shirt or blouse portion from lightweight material although the invention is not so limited. When made from light-weight shirt material which is soft to the touch and yet is sufliciently strong to satisfactorily support the trouser portion and bib, the sensitive skin areas of the neck and shoulder are not subject to irritation which might be caused by a stiffer cloth. Examples of cloth which have been found satisfactory for the blouse portions are 2.70 and 2.20 weight sanforized denim shirting. With the shirt or blouse portions made from such fabrics, it has been found satisfactory to construct the trouser portion from 2.00 weight sanforized denim pants material.

Savings in cloth and resulting economies in manufacture accrue from constructing the unitary garment of the invention as distinguished from conventional overalls and separate companion work shirts. Appointments such as the buckle and straps are eliminated; distribution costs of the single garment are less; all adding up to lower costs to the consumer. But above and beyond the foregoing the invention provides a more comfortable, attractive and generally satisfactory Work garment than has heretofore been available.

In the foregoing description, a preferred embodiment of the invention has been described in detail, but it is to be understood that variations in this particular construction may be made without departing from the invention. Therefore, this description is intended to be construed as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

A unitary overall garment having a shirt portion and a trouser portion joined thereto by a seam extending across the back of the garment in the region of the waist, said shirt portion having a pair of front panels and a back panel with shoulder portions extending on opposite sides of a neck opening, said back panel being joined to said front panels by seams extending outwardly from opposite sides of the neck opening to armholes at the sides of the shirt portion, arcuate edges on said front panels diverging downwardly and outwardly from a point immediately below the neck opening to the sides of the garment in the region of the waist, a front bib panel joined to the trouser portion by a seam extending across the front of the garment in the region of the waist, said bib panel having arcuate upper edges conforming to the arcuate edges of the respective front panels, the edge of one said front panel being joined to the corresponding portion of the bib edge by a seam, the remaining front panel edge and the remaining portion of the bib edge being provided with cooperating fastening means, tool carrying pockets on said front bib panel, said bib panel, pockets, and trouser portion being of heavier material than said shirt portion.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 341,153 Lederer May 4, 1886 1,048,150 Goodman Dec. 24, 1912 1,145,855 Wise July 6, 1915 1,192,288 Emery July 25, 1916 1,783,538 Hersckowitz Dec. 2, 1930 2,355,193 Walker Aug. 8, 1944 

